"It's hardly surprising they love it. After all, they have spent their first nine months surrounded by fluid.

"The youngest baby to join us was just two days old, but the average is around six weeks."

Claire Victory, from Hunts Cross, has been attending classes with her six month-old daughter Ruby, since last September.

She said: "As a result of doing the course Ruby's not in the least bit bothered by water - in fact she absolutely loves it.

"Her confidence makes me feel so much happier when thinking about her being around water and I know it's great exercise for both of us too."

Babies lack the strength and confidence to swim on the surface until they are three or four.

But with careful supervision they can enjoy the sensation of moving through the water within days of birth.

Alison says as well as having fun the course also has a very serious aim.

She said: "Although babies rarely appear to be doing any more than having fun they are actually learning potential life-saving skills. "Most people wouldn't think it, but drowning is still unfortunately the third largest cause of accidental death for children in the UK."